As another eventful and educational semester at William & Mary ends, an exciting season begins! Between campus and community traditions like Yule Log and the Grand Illumination, the fall semester is ending on a festive note.

The last day of classes is December 6 and final exams will be held from December 9th to the 18th. We wish all students the best of luck on their exams, and hope you will enjoy lots of family time with your student over break. 

Due to winter break, there will be no January newsletter, so on behalf of William & Mary, we wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

Finals can be a stressful time for students so here are some things you can do to help!

In addition, a great resource for students is William & Mary's Health & Wellness Center. The wellness center provides free classes, workshops, and mindfulness initiatives for students to help manage stress. Students are also invited to stop by the FYE tables in Sadler and Swem for apple cider, hot cocoa, study supplies, and some extra study motivation!

The Dean of Students Office offers students help concerning academic enrichment. This includes, but is not limited to, time management, stress management, study techniques, and general academic guidance. Visit the DOS website to learn about study skills, tutors, workshops, and more!

Important Dates

 Tuition Payment Plans for the spring semester (2020) will be available on Dec. 12, 2019

Refunds

Are you expecting a financial aid refund? Direct deposit refunds are sent electronically to the bank account designated in eServices.

eServices

Check with your student to be sure you are set up as an Authorized User in eServices. This will allow you to receive eStatement notifications, have access to view, and pay, the bill, as well as be able to enroll in the monthly Tuition Payment Plan.

For step-by-step instructions on how to have your student grant you authorized user status, please feel free to use the guidelines set forth by W&M Financial Operations HERE.

William & Mary's most treasured holiday tradition is the annual Yule Log Ceremony, held this year on December 14th. During the ceremony, the entire William & Mary student body squeezes into the Wren Courtyard to enjoy music, food, and speeches. Afterwards, students file into the Wren Building to throw a ceremonial holly sprig into the yule log fire for good luck. If you would like to attend the ceremony but cannot make it to campus, there will be over 30 ceremonies held across the country.

Student meal plan selections will roll from fall to spring, but between 12/3 and 1/31, students are allowed to make eligible changes. Any remaining fall Dining Dollars will be added to spring meal plans in early February after add/drop. Stay up to date with Dining News by signing up for the Dining Services Newsletter

The latest release of the NCAA graduation rate data put William & Mary athletics in first for all public schools in the nation, for the 15th year in a row. William & Mary has 86% of it’s athletes graduate, well above the national average of 68%, thus proving true the goal of William & Mary in providing student athletes with a holistic student-athlete experience.

Student Leadership Foundation is a program for freshman and sophomore leaders that allows participants the opportunity to learn about themselves, to deepen their understanding of leadership, and how to apply a variety of leadership concepts to impact positive change. Additionally, it will introduce them to a wide range of resources on campus, including other leaders! Following the SLF Kick-Off Retreat on Saturday, February 8th, participants will meet weekly through mid-April. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 27th and students selected to participate will be notified by Friday, January 31st. Interested students can apply on TribeLink.

On November 8th, W&M celebrated National First-Generation College Student Day with a catered luncheon. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff members in attendance enjoyed time spent connecting with others and hearing from Provost Agouris. The Provost gave short remarks on the importance of their accomplishments, while also acknowledging campus support.

The fall semester is coming to a close and winter break is upon us. The 2019-2020 Orientation Area Directors are gearing up to make this an exciting Orientation Aide recruiting season The Orientation Aide application will go live on December 6th, and will be open over winter break to allow candidates time to apply. This year’s group of OADs want to hire a staff of individuals whom offer all kinds of life experiences to help our new students transition into the William & Mary community. Encourage your student to apply!

Starting in January, Cohen has several industry exploration trips for W&M students. These trips are all excellent opportunities for students to network and learn about career pathways in their fields. Details and registration for each of these trips will be in TribeCareers.wm.edu. A Day in D.C. Friday, January 17, 2020 Visiting The Brookings Institution, The Public International Law & Policy Group, and The Department of State Creative Careers Immersion Trip in NYC Visits to include Nickelodeon, FleishmanHillard, and Penguin Press Inaugural Tech Trek in San Francisco March 7-11, 2020 Visiting Apple, Uber, Lyft, Twitter, and Slack

Nine W & M students make up the Williamsburg Engagement team where they help sustain two local agencies with their weekly programming efforts. These students give 2-3 hours of their time once a week to a local agency to positively impact people's lives in the community and learn the inter-workings of the non-profit and its importance in Williamsburg.

To learn more about our Williamsburg Engagement/WE Teams and if your student is interested in joining our team for the Spring Semester of 2020 please visit our website .

Is your student interested in working and living in DC over the summer? Applications for the 2020 DC Summer Institutes are now open. Students can study one of three topics: American Politics, Leadership & Community Engagement, or News & Media. Earn 7 credits while interning in our nation's capital! For more information, please contact Program Manager Erin Battle at 202-836-8607 or eebattle@wm.edu.

Are you searching for a memorable gift for you student? Take a moment to look at all the exclusive gift options offered by the William & Mary Alumni Association.